A weekend away and a tale of exploding frogs!

[Neil]

Sunday and Monday saw the Annual get together of a few of DW's long standing members in a location over the bridge.

Following the yearly problem of not being able to find the camp site, Mark and I arrived to find Nomad and Pip already set up in Pip's mansion of a tent.

After the normal greetings Mark and I popped over to see the campsite owner and explained what we were doing here and he took a keen interest. Not one to ignore that interest, I took the opportunity to offer to teach him how to detect on the old orchard and he jumped at the chance, so we set a time for 6pm and headed back to the boys in the knowledge that they would be more than happy to try the orchard around the site. More on that later.

Once Rob and Roman Ray arrived we headed off to our first destination to find a certain Chef relaxing on the roof of his car having waited patiently for a few hours, as is the norm with these things!

Onto the fields and not a lot came up apart from the usual buttons, musket balls, buckles, copper coinage, ect - you now the score. So after trying four different fields with the sun beating down on us, we headed back for a chill and swing at the campsite.

In the orchard my first signal produced a 925 silver ring, but I was quickly upstaged by my long standing ring finding buddy - Ray! We always seem to find rings when we detect together - so many times that I have lost count now. Ray's was a beauty of a silver late Victorian buckle ring, that fitted his little finger like a glove.

Shortly after the Chef made the find of the orchard by producing a Lizzy Hammered two pence. He even fought back the urge and kept it in the clod for those all important dirty photos. Well done mate - a well deserved Tudor coin.

Next was my turn with a 50/50 silver shilling and a beauty of a Double Looped Trapezoidal buckle dating 1620-1680 {page 83 Whitehaeds}.

Mark wasn't to be outdone by me and soon found a Vicy mourning head sixpence and a complete Artois style Buckle 1720-1790.

The camp site owner soon arrived and was treated to an expert detecting lesson courtesy of Pip. He was over the moon with his finds including copper coins, bullets and musket balls and disappeared after and hour or two showing other interested campers on his way to his home.

The night decended into its normal mayhem with cider, beer and wine flowing and detecting stories being swapped all over the place. We did a round of favourite finds and wanted finds. There were also stories of exploding frogs but thats strictly on a need to know basis!

I dragged my sorry butt back to my glorious one berth abode with the latest in covered tarpaulin technology and a fully vented outside privvy at about 1am with some of the others still going strong.

Morning saw us all awake bleary eyed with a breakfast of sausage and coffee courtesy of Pip's Tent Mansion. The only person missing was Rob who during the night had retired to his car to sleep, thanks to a battle with his tent zip and a guy called Ralph turning up! He knows what I mean!

Button Moon was our next destination following a bit of losing the convoy and a stop at McDonalds to pluck my Slurry Cherry following an admission that I had not been in one for 10 years and Marks and Pips insistence that I try one. I got to admit it was lovely and soon distinguished the fires of last nights wine.

Button Moon was officially Scorchio and although the ground was soft the finds few and far between . Those of note included a spectacle buckle for me, a tiny hammered for Rob that I could barely get a signal on, a clog clasp for Pip, a lovely spur rowl for Cheffy and possibly the find of the day for Nomad in what is speculatively a bronze unit.

As Mark and I packed to head home Rob produced another hammered copper coin this time a Rose Fathing.

I returned home over the bridge shattered, sun kissed and happy. Once again gents it was a memorable camping trip - may we have many more.

Cheers
Neil

[Neil]

More

[Neil]

Again

[Neil]

Still more

[Neil]

More

[Neil]

Last one - Thanks guys - Great Weekend!

[Neil]

More

[tyna]

Love the chanting photo' - channelling the goodies eh?

[handyman [Alan}]

ROFLMAO - only tyna could think that they looked enchanting   

[tyna]

I'm in tune with the Universe Al 

[handyman [Alan}]

ROFL

so u are universal then!!!!

[Tafflaff (Rob)]

I wonder what attracted Neil to this Orchard ?  

[Roman (Ray)]

when i looked in tafflaff.s tent in the morning i thought he,d been kidnapped.he was no where to be seen until i went to get something from the car..lol..i had to double back for the camera.lol..and then i popped over to the hangover tent pipsters dome.to see a very ruff nomad.lol..but it was a great night id say we where of our faces..lol.
thanks for a great 2 dayer guys.
raymondo..

[handyman [Alan}]

wow ... nice tent

[Napoleon]

    ah thats what is life about tres tres bien all of you and some superb find .bravo .Nordine.